🚨 Same-day printing cutoff is 11 AM.
Share

How to Choose Photos for an Obituary or Funeral Program

Photographs help a funeral program feel personal. They can show a loved one at different ages, highlight important relationships and preserve moments that words cannot fully describe. Choosing the right

images is not about finding only perfect studio portraits. It is about building a truthful, loving picture of a life.
Start with the cover photo
Choose one strong image for the cover. The best cover photo usually has:
– A clear view of the person’s face – Good lighting – Enough space around the head and shoulders for cropping – A natural expression that feels familiar to family and friends – A file large enough to print clearly
If the background is distracting, a designer may be able to simplify or replace it. However, a blurry or extremely small image cannot always be made sharp. Whenever possible, send the original photograph rather than an image copied from social media.
Tell the story across different stages of life
After choosing the cover, look for photographs that represent the person’s life as a whole:
– Childhood and school years – Graduation or military service – Career and community involvement – Marriage, children and grandchildren – Faith and church activities – Hobbies, travel and celebrations – Everyday moments that reflect their personality
A balanced collection often feels more meaningful than dozens of nearly identical pictures from one event.
Include important people without losing focus
Family and group photos are valuable, especially when they show close relationships. Try to include a mixture of individual portraits and group images. In crowded photographs, identify the person being honored so the designer knows which face must remain visible after cropping.
If someone should not appear in the finished program, state that clearly before design begins. Do not assume the designer will know the family relationships.
Choose quality over quantity More photographs do not automatically create a better program. Too
many images on a page can make each one small and difficult to see. Select the strongest photographs first, then use the program format and page count to decide how many additional images will fit comfortably.
Loving Digitals offers Standard, Square, Trifold and Magazine options for families with different amounts of content. You can [compare the funeral program formats](https://lovingdigitals.com/funeral-program- printing/) before deciding how many photographs to submit.
Use original files whenever possible
For digital images, send the original file from the phone, camera or computer. Avoid:
– Screenshots of photographs – Images downloaded repeatedly from social media – Photos pasted into a word-processing document – Tiny preview images – Pictures sent through an app that heavily compresses them
If a photo exists only as a print, scan it at a high quality setting. Place it flat on the scanner glass and wipe away dust first. If scanning is not possible, photograph the print in bright, even light, holding the camera directly above it to avoid glare and distortion.
Do not crop too early
Send the complete image when possible. Extra space gives the designer flexibility to fit different frames and page layouts. A tightly cropped face may not work in a tall cover design or beside text.
You may send a reference screenshot showing your preferred crop, but keep the original file available too.
Organize the files before submitting them A simple naming system saves time and prevents confusion. For example:
– `01-cover-photo.jpg` – `02-childhood.jpg` – `03-graduation.jpg` – `04-family-photo.jpg` – `05-church-photo.jpg`
Place the most important photos first. If captions are required, provide a separate list matching the filenames. Keep spelling and family titles consistent.
Ask one person to make final selections

Different relatives may send duplicate images or have different preferences. Designate one person to gather the photographs, remove duplicates and approve the final selection. This creates a clear point of contact and helps prevent changes after the pages are already arranged.

Review the proof carefully When the proof is ready, check more than spelling. Confirm that:

– The correct person appears in every photograph – No important face has been cropped out – Photos are placed in the intended order – Captions match the correct images

– No duplicate or unintended photo appears – The cover image is the approved version

View the proof at normal size and zoom in where needed. Printing should begin only after the family is satisfied with the complete layout.

Ready to organize your memorial program?

If you need design and printing together, review Loving Digitals’ [full-service funeral program options](https://lovingdigitals.com/ funeral-program-printing/). If you already have a finished, print- ready file, choose [print-ready obituary printing](https:// lovingdigitals.com/product/obituary-printing-2/).